Psychology Learning Outcomes

Psychology Department Mission Statement

The mission of the Psychology Department is to promote curiosity and passion for the theory and practice of scientific psychology. Majors will receive training in the methods necessary to design, conduct, and communicate high quality research in psychological science, and in the interpersonal skills required for working in mental health fields and other professions. Therefore, upon graduation, majors will be prepared for graduate study in psychology or related fields of study. In addition, majors will develop the technological, information literacy, critical thinking, collaborative, and ethical abilities that are essential for a lifetime of socially and morally responsible citizenship. The study of psychology is an excellent preparation for careers that require a basic understanding of human behavior.

Goal 1: Communication Skills: The Department aims to maintain and improve 1) a systematic developmental plan for achieving required writing proficiency standards; 2) required opportunities to practice and perfect oral skills that may lead to presentations in a professional context; 3) inclusion of multiple embedded and required course-related collaborative activities which are supported by sound preparation and developmental feedback; and 4) opportunities to improve interpersonal skills that are needed to work in mental health and other professions.

Student Learning Outcomes for Goal 1

• Psychology majors graduate with an ability to write effectively and persuasively in the discourse of the discipline.
• Psychology majors graduate with an ability to speak effectively and persuasively in the discourse of the discipline.
• Psychology majors graduate with an ability to be insightful and reflective about their own others’ behavior and mental processes.
• Psychology majors graduate with the interpersonal skills necessary to work one on one and in collaboration with others toward a common goal.

Goal 2: Psychological Literacy: The Department aims to foster a detailed, historically-grounded, and interdisciplinary foundation in the theory and practice of the diverse field of scientific psychology, as well as to promote a creative and amiably skeptical approach to solving problems.

Student Learning Outcome for Goal 2

• Psychology majors graduate with a firm scientific foundation in the theory and practice of psychology.
• Psychology majors graduate with historically-grounded knowledge of the disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspective breadth of psychology.
• Psychology majors graduate with the knowledge and skills to conduct a literature review, design a study, collect and analyze data, and communicate the results in written and oral form.
• Psychology majors graduate with an appreciation for an amiably skeptical approach to problem solving, and the technological skills, information literacy skills, and critical thinking skills to be adept consumers of research.

Goal 3: Psychologically Literate Citizenship: The Department aims to promote the general capacity to adaptively and intentionally apply psychology to meet personal, professional, and societal needs, and to use psychological knowledge adaptively in an ethically and socially responsible manner.

Student Learning Outcomes for Goal 3

• Psychology majors graduate with an appreciation for using scientific thinking and the disciplined analysis of information to evaluate alternative courses of action.
• Psychology majors graduate with an understanding of ethics, and an ability to solve problems and act in an ethically and socially responsible manner.
• Psychology majors graduate with an ability to recognize, understand, and foster respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Psychology majors graduate with an understanding of how they may apply their knowledge of psychology to personal, social, and organizational issues in work, relationships, and the broader community.